Bottling or dispensing container



Feb. 27, 1951 1.. GREINER BOTTLING OR DISPENSING CONTAINER Filed Feb. 24, 1948 INVENTOR. Grezner leonard BY W A TTONN E7 Patented Feb. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES i ATENT OFFICE BOTTLING 0R DISPENSING CONTAINER Leonard Greiner, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application February 24, 1948, Serial No. 10,314

3 Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in bottling or dispensing containers used for receiving and holding liquids and an object of the improvement is to afiord a means for the controlled dispensing of the liquid from the container.

In brief, the invention consists of a hollow container having two openings, the first of which is for delivery of the liquid contained in said container, and the second of which controls the flow of the liquid through the first opening by regulating the entrance of air into the container. The features of the design including a means for controlling the maximum rate of flow of the liquid from the delivery opening, by properly designing this opening so as to obtain an appropriate liquid friction at the delivery orifice and to prevent the entrance of air therethrough; and a means for easily and quickly stopping and starting the flow from the delivery opening by stopping and starting the flow of air into the container through the second opening in the container. The latter control may be conveniently incorporated into a push-button arrangement or the like.

One non-limiting form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing. In this drawing, Figure 1 is a vertical section of the container, alone;

Figures 2 and 3 are top and bottom plan views of the container, respectively;

Figure 4 is a sectional view of an elastic disk and plug;

Figure 5 is a side view of a non-elastic button and shank used with the plug;

Figure 6 is a bottom view of the disk and plug;

Figure '7 is a bottom view of the button; and

Figure 8 is a side view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section of the assembled bottom portion of the device.

The delivery opening I consists, in the illustrated example, of a bottle neck whose outer surface is formed to be engaged by the screw cap 2, and which is provided with a narrow, capillary-type opening 3 which communicates with the interior of the container. This capillary-type opening is one way of controlling the liquid friction at the orifice, thereby regulating the rate of dispensing the liquid. Other methods of controlling this friction may be employed, such as the use of a zig-zag or otherwise constricted passage, etc., and this invention is not limited to the use of capillary openings. Also, the screw cap arrangement may be exchanged for a different type of cover (i. e., friction cap, etc.), without falling outside the scope of this invention.

The lower portion of the container accommodates the apparatus for controlling the entry of air into the container. sists (in this example) of two circular, stepwise identations, 5 and 6. The latter are purposely built upward into the bottom of the container so that the completely assembled device (Figure 8) may be stood upright in a stable fashion. Again, the indentations may be replaced with a hollowed bottom (similar to the false bottoms of some beverage bottles), etc., without falling outside the scope of this invention.

An opening I is made in the top of the last indentation 6 in order to take the stem or plug portion 8 of the elastic disk or plate F3. The stem portion 8 of the elastic disk is constructed on a slight taper, as shown, with the thicker upper end of a proper size to be barely admitted into hole 7. A small hole ll! is also formed in the flat portion of the elastic disk 9.

Disk 9 is also provided with a bore ll extending almost the full length of the stem or plug portion 8. The hollow H is to admit-the shank portion E2 of a non-elastic button l3. The shank portion 12 of button [3 is of an external diameter slightly larger than the internal diameter of the bore 5 i, so that the stem portion 8 of the elastic disk 9 will be laterally expanded when shank portion [2 is forced into bore I I.

The completed assembly of the bottom portion of the example is shown in Figure 8. It will be noted that the parts are dimensioned so that hole ill is not covered, and. the outer diameter of the flat portion of button i3 is less than the diameter of the annularindentation 6. Also, the flat portion of disk 9 is of a diameter greater than that of the annular indentation 5, and this fiat disk is located at a distance from the bottom of the higher indentation 5. Finally, the various parts are dimensioned so that the stem portion 8 of the disk 9 extends through and somewhat beyond hole 1 and the shank portion [2 of button l3 also extends slightly past the horizontal projection of hole 7, leaving a small space between the tops of the shank portion 52 and bore II.

To fill the device, the empty container is inverted with can 2 screwed on tightly, and liquid is added through the hole '1. Next, disc stem or plug 23 is inserted in hole F, as shown in Figure 8, and button i3 is subsequently forced into the bore ii in stem 8. When this is done, using correctly-dimensioned parts, a tight seal is formed at the boundary between hole I and stem portion 8 and the device may be turned right-side up without leakage.

This lower portion con-.

As a first step in dispensing the liquid, screw cap 2 is removed and the container is inverted. If the bottle is not vigorously shaken, this inversion does not result in leakage through the opening 3. To dispense the liquid, it is now merely necessary to apply pressure on button [3. When this is done, the seal between the elastic stem or plug 3 and hole 7 is broken, since the stem or plug is of a tapered construction. Air is thus permitted to enter into the interior of the container through holes I and 1, allowing the simultaneous passage of liquid through opening 3. When pressure is removed from button I3, the elastic stem or plug 8 returns to its original position, sealing the hole 7, and the passage of liquid through hole 3 ceases practically immediately. In such a manner, it is possible to emit controlled portions of liquid at a flow rate dependent upon the design of the neck aperture.

The above example is, of course, not meant to this patent to apply only to devices constructed exactly as indicated, since many changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, other methods of controlthe entry of air into the container by the of applying pressure on a button, etc. nay be suggested. For example, the property of elastic plug, whereby it exerts a constant tenagainst hole 7 (thus sealing the hole) and reby it returns to its original position after be obtained by the use of a properly designed coiled spring or even a flat sheet of spring material. Also, the push-button arrangement may be replace-:1 by a dial or knob device, in which ca. the aperture may be opened and closed by "1g a stopper on a pivot, or by adjusting an 'opriate valve.

1 1e design of the dispensing aperture may be adjusted between very wide limits, depending, to a great extent, upon the physical properties of the liquid (viz: density, viscosity, presence of suspended matter, etc.) and the desired rate of withdrawal.

The following non-inclusive uses may be sugg .s e'i for the invention:

nor the controlled emission of toiletries, such as lotions, solutions, emulsions, perfumes, eyewash liquids, liquid dentifrioes, etc.

For the controlled emission of food stufis, such as liquid fiavorings, syrups, etc.

For the controlled emission of liquid medicinals.

4. For any manufactured or household liquids where it desirable to control the amounts dispensef.

It pictured that the device may be used to package commercial items, and/or it may be manufactured for use by private persons.

I claim:

1. A liquid dispenser, comprising a receptacle body having a discharge opening, a Wall of the body having an air admission opening therein, said air admission opening being concentric with two concentric shoulders spaced apart axially, the innermost shoulder defining said air admission opening, an elastic disk member positioned upon the outermost shoulder and covering and spaced from the innermost shoulder and said air admission opening, a tapered elastic plug carried by the disk member and extending through said air admission opening and eng ging the edge thereof, and means carried by the disk member and connected with the plug for facilitating the inward flexing of the disk member and the longitudinal shifting of the plug for the disengagement of the plug from the edge of the admission opening.

2. A liquid dispenser of the character stated in claim 1, wherein said means comprises a button disposed against the outer side of the disk and a stem formed integral with the button and extending inwardly into a bore formed in the plug.

3. A liquid dispenser, comprising a receptacle having a discharge opening, a wall of the receptacle having an inpressed portion forming a large circular recess and smaller circular recess extending from the bottom of the larger recess, the smaller circular recess having an air admission opening in the bottom thereof, a flat elastic disk disposed within the larger recess and resting upon the bottom thereof and covering the smaller recess, said disk having an integral relatively long plug extending through said air admission opening, the plug being tapered slightly from the free end toward the disk, the disk having a central bore extending into and through the major portion of the length of the plug, a button member disposed against the outer side of the disk. a shank integral with the button member and extending into the bore, said shank functioning to increase the diameter of the elastic plug to effect the sealing contact between the -.=-.'all of the plug and the edge of the air admission opening, and said disk having an air passageway therethrough leading into the smaller recess.

LEONARD GREINER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

